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The Golden Verses of Pythagoras · Sacred Texts

The Golden Verses of Pythagoras

50 entries · 3 sections

by Fabre d'Olivet

Start Reading second portion here Table of Contents Translator’s Foreword

Discourse Upon the Essence and Form of Poetry

Introduction § I § II § III § IV § V § VI § VII

Examinations of the Golden Verses

1. The Golden Verses of the Pythagoreans 2. Render to the Immortal Gods the Consecrated Cult; Guard Then Thy Faith 3. Revere the Memory of the Illustrious Heroes, of Spirits Demi-Gods 4. Be a Good Son, Just Brother, Spouse Tender, and Good Father 5. Choose For Thy Friend, the Friend of Virtue...If Thou Canst at Least: For A Most Rigid Law Binds Power To Necessity 7. Still it is Given Thee to Fight and Overcome Thy Foolish Passions: Learn Thou to Subdue Them 8. Be Sober, Diligent, and Chaste; Avoid All Wrath...9. Speak Not Nor Act Before Thou Hast Reflected; Be Just 10. Remember That a Power Invincible Ordains to Die 11. That riches and the honours Easily acquired, are easy thus to lose 12. As to the evils which Destiny involves 13. Even as Truth, does Error have its lovers 14. Keep closed both eye and ear ’gainst prejudice 15. Consult, Deliberate, and Freely Choose 16. Let fools act aimlessly and without cause, Thou shouldst, in the present, contemplate the future 17. That which thou dost not know, pretend not that thou dost. Instruct thyself: for time and patience favour all.18. Neglect not thy health 19. . . . Dispense with moderation, Food to the body, and to the mind repose 20. Too much attention or too little shun; for envy thus, to either excess is alike attached 21. Luxury and avarice have similar results. One must choose in all things a mean just and good.22. What have I omitted, and what done?23. Abstain thou if ‘tis evil; persevere if good 24. Meditate Upon My Counsels, Love Them; Follow Them: to the Divine Virtues Will They Know How to Lead Thee 25. The sacred Tetrad 26. Invoke these Gods with fervour 27. Know the Principle and End of All 28. If Heaven Wills It, Thou Shalt Know That Nature, Alike in Everything, Is the Same in Every Place 29. Thine Heart Shall No More Feed On Vain Desires 30. The Evils Which Devour Men Are of Their Choice the Fruit 31. Unfortunates Seek Afar the Goodness Whose Source Within They Bear 32. For few know happiness 33. God! Thou Couldst Save Them by Opening Their Eyes 34. But No: ’Tis For the Humans of a Race Divine, to Discern Error, and to See the Truth 35. Nature serves them 36. Letting Intelligence O’er Thy Body Reign 37. Thou Shalt Be Thyself A God